Women's Tennis

Women's Tennis Opens LEC Tournament Play Thursday

Oct. 20, 2010

NORTH DARTMOUTH, MA-The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's women's tennis team will try for their second NCAA Tournament appearance in three years when they begin play Thursday in the Little East Conference Tournament.

The Corsairs, who earned the top seed by virtue of finishing first during the regular season, will host fourth-seeded Western Connecticut State at 3:00 p.m. Bridgewater State and Salem State will meet in the other semi-final Thursday. The championship match is set for 1:00 p.m. Saturday, and the Corsairs will host the title match if they win Thursday.

The Corsairs are enjoying a seven-match winning streak, and are 11-1, having suffered their only defeat when they lost at WCSU, 6-3, October 9th."There will be a motivational factor against Western Connecticut, since they beat us down there," said UMass Dartmouth Head Coach Ralph Perry. "Our team was very disappointed that we lost down there, and we'll be looking for revenge."

The Colonials are 9-4, and have won four matches in succession, including Tuesday's 5-2 first round playoff match against Plymouth State, following a three-match losing streak in early October. "All the teams left in the tournament are good, quality teams, and any one of them could win the tournament," said Perry. "We're fortunate that we won the league and that we have the home court advantage, but if you don't play well Thursday, you don't play Saturday."

Perry is optimistic that his team can be successful. "Winning the tournament was one of our goals at the beginning of the year," said Perry. "We have a good, solid lineup with good leadership, and our young players have held their own. (Senior) Amy (Lopes, Dartmouth, MA/Dartmouth HS) is the one who makes us go, and I'm counting on her to do very well, and to show our younger players what it's all about."

The winner of Saturday's championship match advances to the NCAA Division III Championships, which will begin May 13, 2011.